PerpetualImperfexion
February 16th, 2013, 01:27 PM
We have to write about a "controversial topic" in English Class. As I go to a Christian school (for the higher education) I figured defending pro-choice policy would be as controversial as it gets :P. Without any further ado, here is my paper:
In the United states it is legal to get an abortion. There are many people and organizations working to change this. Although some feel abortion is an awful thing, it should still be an option.
The problem with banning abortion is that won't actually stop it. A determined women will simply resort to more dangerous and less sanitary options. There have been several cases where women have resorted to these options when they are too far along. Banning abortion will only increase this. Because banning abortion is ineffective, we should instead look for solutions that work.
There are those who think abortion should be 100% illegal, even in the case of rape. A women who was raped and who doesn't want to carry and birth her rapists baby should not have to. That's comparable to being raped again. Every morning that women would wake up to see the growth in her abdomen. That is just one more reminder of what happened to her. A women should not have to go through the pain of birthing a child that was forced upon her if she doesn't want to. For these reasons, abortion should be legal to atleast rape victims.
Some people think that abortion should only be legal in the case of rape. How do you determine wether a woman was raped? About 60% of rapes are not reported. If the victim does not report the crime she is even less likely to seek medical attention. It might be weeks before the woman realizes she is pregnant, and by that time all the evidence will likely be gone. Who would you have to prove it to? It would be awful for a rape victim to have to go infront of a judge or a jury and repeat every miniscule detail. That is actually the reason so few rapes are reported. How long would the process of proving you were raped take? In Mexico a nine year old girl was found to be pregnant. There was evidence that she was raped, but by the time they had proven it, she was too far along for a legal abortion to take place. If abortion isn't accessable to everyone, it just causes more pain and distress for women who were raped. Abortion should be open to everyone, if only for the sake of rape victims.
Often times religion is brought into the abortion argument. The problem with this is that not everyone believes the same thing. If you think abortion is morally wrong, don't get one, but don't force your beliefs on others. Dont judge them either because until you walk in their shoes you have no idea how you yourself would react. Often times people will say abortion is wrong, not because of religious reasons, but because it violates the rights of another living breathing human. The problem is one scientist can say that a fetus is nothing more than a tape worm shaped like a human, whereas another scientist can say that it is a living, breathing, human being. People on both sides are able to use scientific evidence to support their case. Because scientific evidence is not capable of being the deciding factor, you have to leave it up to the beliefs and ideals of an individual. Like I said though, everyone thinks differently, so you simply can't make laws based on their believes.
It is not uncommon for those against abortion to suggest adoption. Although adoption is a valid option, it is not always a solution women would like to turn to. I'll bring back the rape victim again. If she doesn't want to go through the nine months of daily reminders of what happened to her and the pain it takes to birth a child why should she? Unfortunately these things are necessary for adoption to take place. Often times women feel regret after putting their child up for adoption. They wonder how the child will grow up and they wonder what it would've been like to raise him/her. On the other hand everyone reacts differently to whatever decision they make. Regret isn't just common in adoption but also in abortion. Other times women feel relieved after their abortions. Either way though, people should be able to make their own decisions and be able to face whatever emotion should come from that decision. Their choice should not be thrust upon them. Although adoption is a valid option, it should not be the only option for a woman who does not want to keep her child. She should be able to make a decision that she thinks she will be able to look back on and deal with.
In my own opinion, I think abortion is awful, so if someone came to me for advice I would never suggest they get an abortion. That being said, if that same person decided to get an abortion and they needed my support they would have it completely. Shutting down a clean, working abortion clinic will not stop an uneducated young woman from getting pregnant. Only better sex education, etc. will solve that problem. Although I don't know any rape victims personally, I can imagine how awful it would be to have all control taken away In such a personal way. Forcing a woman to carry and birth a child that was forced upon her is no different. Unfortunately, only allowing rape victims access to abortion just makes it more painful for them. Ultimately, science cannot give a decisive answer to whether something is right or wrong. Only people can decide that for themselves. Because of this, I feel abortion should not only be legal, but easily accessible. If you think abortion is wrong, don't get one, but do not try to legislate based on your beliefs.
Any critiques, suggestions to expand, and attempts to shoot down my argument are much appreciated.
Most of this paper was dictated via a microphone and what wasn't was typed on an iPad keyboard. I think I fixed all the mistakes, but don't be afraid to point any you find out to me.
In the United states it is legal to get an abortion. There are many people and organizations working to change this. Although some feel abortion is an awful thing, it should still be an option.
The problem with banning abortion is that won't actually stop it. A determined women will simply resort to more dangerous and less sanitary options. There have been several cases where women have resorted to these options when they are too far along. Banning abortion will only increase this. Because banning abortion is ineffective, we should instead look for solutions that work.
There are those who think abortion should be 100% illegal, even in the case of rape. A women who was raped and who doesn't want to carry and birth her rapists baby should not have to. That's comparable to being raped again. Every morning that women would wake up to see the growth in her abdomen. That is just one more reminder of what happened to her. A women should not have to go through the pain of birthing a child that was forced upon her if she doesn't want to. For these reasons, abortion should be legal to atleast rape victims.
Some people think that abortion should only be legal in the case of rape. How do you determine wether a woman was raped? About 60% of rapes are not reported. If the victim does not report the crime she is even less likely to seek medical attention. It might be weeks before the woman realizes she is pregnant, and by that time all the evidence will likely be gone. Who would you have to prove it to? It would be awful for a rape victim to have to go infront of a judge or a jury and repeat every miniscule detail. That is actually the reason so few rapes are reported. How long would the process of proving you were raped take? In Mexico a nine year old girl was found to be pregnant. There was evidence that she was raped, but by the time they had proven it, she was too far along for a legal abortion to take place. If abortion isn't accessable to everyone, it just causes more pain and distress for women who were raped. Abortion should be open to everyone, if only for the sake of rape victims.
Often times religion is brought into the abortion argument. The problem with this is that not everyone believes the same thing. If you think abortion is morally wrong, don't get one, but don't force your beliefs on others. Dont judge them either because until you walk in their shoes you have no idea how you yourself would react. Often times people will say abortion is wrong, not because of religious reasons, but because it violates the rights of another living breathing human. The problem is one scientist can say that a fetus is nothing more than a tape worm shaped like a human, whereas another scientist can say that it is a living, breathing, human being. People on both sides are able to use scientific evidence to support their case. Because scientific evidence is not capable of being the deciding factor, you have to leave it up to the beliefs and ideals of an individual. Like I said though, everyone thinks differently, so you simply can't make laws based on their believes.
It is not uncommon for those against abortion to suggest adoption. Although adoption is a valid option, it is not always a solution women would like to turn to. I'll bring back the rape victim again. If she doesn't want to go through the nine months of daily reminders of what happened to her and the pain it takes to birth a child why should she? Unfortunately these things are necessary for adoption to take place. Often times women feel regret after putting their child up for adoption. They wonder how the child will grow up and they wonder what it would've been like to raise him/her. On the other hand everyone reacts differently to whatever decision they make. Regret isn't just common in adoption but also in abortion. Other times women feel relieved after their abortions. Either way though, people should be able to make their own decisions and be able to face whatever emotion should come from that decision. Their choice should not be thrust upon them. Although adoption is a valid option, it should not be the only option for a woman who does not want to keep her child. She should be able to make a decision that she thinks she will be able to look back on and deal with.
In my own opinion, I think abortion is awful, so if someone came to me for advice I would never suggest they get an abortion. That being said, if that same person decided to get an abortion and they needed my support they would have it completely. Shutting down a clean, working abortion clinic will not stop an uneducated young woman from getting pregnant. Only better sex education, etc. will solve that problem. Although I don't know any rape victims personally, I can imagine how awful it would be to have all control taken away In such a personal way. Forcing a woman to carry and birth a child that was forced upon her is no different. Unfortunately, only allowing rape victims access to abortion just makes it more painful for them. Ultimately, science cannot give a decisive answer to whether something is right or wrong. Only people can decide that for themselves. Because of this, I feel abortion should not only be legal, but easily accessible. If you think abortion is wrong, don't get one, but do not try to legislate based on your beliefs.
Any critiques, suggestions to expand, and attempts to shoot down my argument are much appreciated.
Most of this paper was dictated via a microphone and what wasn't was typed on an iPad keyboard. I think I fixed all the mistakes, but don't be afraid to point any you find out to me.